Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.
DETROIT – After teasing everyone for almost two years, General Motors Corp. finally reveals the production version of the Chevrolet Volt electric car as part of its 100th anniversary celebration.
But still under-reported is the amount of technical detail and performance specifications the auto maker released on a vehicle that is not due in show rooms for another two years.
Clearly, the production vehicle is not nearly as sexy as the Volt concept that caused a commotion at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
What once was a sporty commuter car for hip urbanites now is a practical 4-seat family sedan.
The bold exterior lines have been rounded and the brash upright front end smoothed and lowered to improve aerodynamics. The low, sinister-looking greenhouse has been raised to provide more headroom. Sticking with the original design would have cost the Volt 6 to 7 miles (9.6 to 11.2 km) of range, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz says.
Inside, the radical shapes, holographic gauge displays and sporty seats of the show car have been replaced with a roomier, more practical design that accommodates multiple airbags and meets crash-test requirements.
